First Wilko, then Seabass? For all the hype this year about the changing of the guard, about the young blood rallying against the oppressive old leaders, the craziest part is still the fact that two former tour bums in their late-twenties have won the opening three events. I mean, who could’ve predicted it? It’s almost comical in a way—a pair of talented class clown-types finding themselves in the form of their lives and taking everyone, including themselves, by surprise. It’s been cool to watch, and has delivered some funny moments on the podium and in post-final interviews (see Seabass’s hilarious Jeff Spicoli impersonation at Margaret River), but perhaps most refreshingly, it’s allowed us to wonder who else could step into the kind of territory that’s previously seemed off-limits to them.
As a competitor, Dusty Payne has been like the surfing equivalent of that footy team you love who never wins—flawed and luckless, with moments of utter brilliance. It’s been painful to watch at times, seeing him pair a nine with a two or simply get outwitted, injured, or fall off tour. But as any fan of his freesurfing knows, the guy’s capable of producing some of the most innovative and well-rounded surfing around. His parts in Lost Atlas and the Volcom movies attest to that, as do the rare moments we’ve seen him catch fire in a jersey, such as the dream re-qualification run he got on in the Triple Crown a few years ago or his opening round win over Medina at the Quikky Pro last year. But all too often it’s been disappointing, and as a result it’s led us to assume that the dude is probably better suited to the freesurfing realm than the competitive arena. Some surfers just aren’t meant to put it together in heats, that’s the way it is.
Photo: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz
Or that’s the way it was, at least, until Matty Wilko and Seabass proved to everyone that it’s never too late to pull your finger out and show people what you’re made of. It hasn’t taken a complete overhaul on their behalf either—a re-evaluation of goals, the addition of a coach or offsider, a touch of good form and suddenly, wham, one and two in the world.
So will Dusty Payne be the next underachiever to step up to the podium? Well, if the surfing he’s been doing at the last two events is anything to go by, it’s not out of the question. He’s looked sharp and determined, he hasn’t fallen off with the same frequency, he’s put on some of the performances of the early rounds, he just hasn’t been winning. According to the WSL he’s a confirmed starter in Rio, and although the shifty peaks of Barra da Tijuca might not seem like his most obvious canvas, keep in mind that other all-rounders like Jordy and John John have previously won there. If a few close calls start going his way, and if he can get his confidence up into the same ballpark as his talent, then don’t be surprised to see him follow in the footsteps of Wilko and Seabass and put up a big result in Brazil.
2016 has been all about shifting the limelight onto unexpected faces, and Dusty Payne could be the latest dark horse to step out of the shadows.
DUSTY PAYNE from stackingclips on Vimeo.
